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A summary of projects proposed for Prince Rupert and Port Edward

Work on the Pinnacle Renewable Energy pellet export terminal is underway, while a number of other projects are proposed.

— image credit: Shaun Thomas

As people around the North Coast discuss major construction projects planned for or related to Prince Rupert, The Northern View has compiled a list of all projects.

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Progress Energy

Project: LNG Terminal on Lelu Island

Project: An LNG terminal on Lelu Island processing up to 12-million tonnes of liquid natural gas fed through Trans Canada's pipeline from Northeastern BC for shipment to Asian markets.

Status: Environmental Assessment underway

The Comprehensive feasibility study for the Pacific Northwest LNG terminal was completed in December. Proponents Petronas and Progress Energy are now carrying on to the pre front-end engineering design phase (Pre-FEED) to provide certainty around project scope and a further understanding of construction time lines, costs and labour force requirements. The project description was submitted to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency last week, and public consultation in the project has now begun. Progress is highly confident a final investment decision will be made in late 2014 with the first shipment of LNG in 2018.

Cost: $11 billion

Construction Phase: Early 2015 to 2018

Construction Jobs: 3,000 to 3,500

Permanent Jobs: 200

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BG Group

Project: LNG Terminal on Ridley Island

Project: Potential LNG terminal on Ridley Island for western Canadian gas onto ships bound for consumers in Japan, South Korea and China.

Status: BG Group has secured access to a 200-acre section of land on Ridley Island, but the project is very early in the feasibility stage. The company commenced discussions with community and First Nations groups last September. Some environmental assessment work on site has been done, as well as noise and other monitoring in Port Edward. The company won't make a final investment decision until the middle of the decade. Due to the long construction phase , and it is a long construction period, if the project gets the green light it's unlikely LNG will be shipped until the end of the decade or early 20s.

Construction Phase: 2015-16 to 2019-20

Construction jobs: 3,500 at peak

Operations Start: 2019 to 2020

Jobs: 400 to 600; 90 to 95 per cent skilled labour

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Prince Rupert Port Authority

Project: Ridley Island Road, Rail Utility Corridor

Project: An infrastructure project for future terminal developments that will extend current limits of road and rail service to loop the perimeter of Ridley Island. Phase 1 will see a road and five rail lines installed (three inbound and two outbound). Each 8.25 kilometre rail loop will have the capacity to hold 450 rail cars each, or 2,250 combined at any given time, to handle current demand. Phase 2 of the project, the full build out, is contingent on demand from terminal projects moving from the conceptual to construction phase, such as the BG LNG terminal. Phase 2 would add 14 more incoming tracks and 12 more outgoing.

Status: In 2010 The City of Prince Rupert seized the property from its Chinese owner, Sun Wave Forest Products, for unpaid taxes after the company sat on the property for five years without fulfilling its plan to reopen the mill. Last December a judge granted the City its right to sell the property to WatCo, but that deal might have to wait until the process of Sun Wave's appeal runs its course. If the appeal fails, WatCo plans to buy the island for $5.5 million and cover the cleanup cost of an estimated at $47-million to $200-million. WatCo chief operating officer Tanner Elton said the old mill needs to be remediated within the next year to prevent an immanent spill that will make remediating the site unrealistic.

At press time WatCo representatives were in China and declined to comment on project details until the legal matter is resolved.

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Pinnacle Renewable Resources

Project: Pellet Export Terminal

Project: The terminal will provide the capacity to export two million tonnes of wood pellets annually, creating a strategic trade gateway for the expanding bio-fuel industry across Northern British Columbia. The water-front site will consist of four 15,000-tonne pellet silos standing 39 metres high made of galvanized steel, a tower housing a bucket elevator and a series of conveyors to load the silos and ships that would dock at Westview Terminal.

Status: Construction in progress.

Cost: $43 million

Construction jobs: 60

Operational Start: Fall 2014

Direct Jobs: 12 to 24

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Canpotex

Project: Potash Export Terminal

Project: A potash export terminal. The terminal calls for dock and marine infrastructure to receive 180,000 tonne vessels, a 180,000 tonne potash storage building with conveyor and dust collection system, an automated railcar unloading and conveyor system and buildings for administration, maintenance, personnel in addition to site services like water and hydro.

Status: The Ministry of Environment approved the Environmental Assessment, but no further updates have been released by Canpotex.

Construction Phase: Early 2014 to Late 2017

Construction Jobs: 250 to 300

Operations Start: 2017

Direct Jobs: 80 to 100

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Maher Terminals

Project: Fairview Terminal Phase 2 Expansion Project

Project: Quadruple the capacity of the Fairview Terminal. The project will extend the existing wharf structure and expand the onshore terminal. the project calls for the infilling of 11.1 hectares of marine environment, the construction of additional wharf, container yard and intermodal yard space, the removal and relocation 14 rail tracks within the intermodal yard for a total of approximately 14,000 metres of rail, dredging and at-sea disposal and construction of two rail siding that require infilling above and below the high water mark.

The project also calls for the construction of a road linking Fairview Terminal to Ridley Island. Once complete, the expanded terminal will lay farther south and accommodate up to 14 vessels per week and 10 train movements per day.

Status: Permitting. Environment Canada approved the Environmental Assessment Jan 25. The project is now with Fisheries and Oceans Canada for permitting review.

Construction date and worker requirements unknown.

Cost: $30 million to $42 million

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Spectra Energy

Project: Natural Gas Pipeline

Project: An 850-kilometre natural gas pipeline transporting up to 4.2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas vapour from Northeastern BC to BG Group's proposed terminal on Ridley Island. The two companies will each own 50 per cent of the pipeline.

Status: The next several years will be spent conferring with stakeholders and working through the permitting process. Spectra Energy is currently in the pre-application stage, and has completed the first step which is the filing of a project description, which it did in October 2012. Based on the results of these efforts, project construction is currently expected to commence mid-decade, with service starting by the end of the decade. Spectra has launched a website, energyforbc.ca and will soon be commencing a series of open houses along the proposed route.

Cost: $6 to $8 billion

Construction Phase: 2015 to 2019

Construction Jobs: 4,000

Operational Start: 2019

Direct Jobs: 50 to 60

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TransCanada Corporation

Project: Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project

Project: A 750-kilometre pipeline from Northeastern BC to the proposed Pacific Northwest LNG export terminal on Lelu Island in Port Edward. TransCanada will own 100 per cent of the

pipeline.

Status: Progress and TransCanada expect to finalize definitive agreements in early 2013, subject to approvals by their respective Boards. The company began Aboriginal and stakeholder consultations in January in part to help determine the most favourable route for the pipeline. Currently stakeholder consultations are ongoing, and the company seeking regulatory approvals by 2015.

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